Media Coverage: Infectious Disease Physician Explains Low Risk to Public as Kansas Health Officials Monitor Hantavirus Exposures

A Saint Luke's infectious disease physician explains what experts know about the virus, how its spread, and the risk to the general public.

The Kansas Department of Health is monitoring three people who were exposed to a passenger on the cruise ship at the center of a hantavirus outbreak.

None of the patients are experiencing symptoms, but they will continue to be monitored due to the Andes strain's long incubation period, which can last up to 42 days.

Dr. Sarah Boyd, an infectious disease physician at Saint Luke’s, talked with KCTV, FOX 4, and KMBC about how the virus is contracted and what experts know about the Andes strain. Dr. Boyd explains that people should stay knowledgeable and check with trusted sources like the Health Department, but that the threat to the general public is "extremely low" at this time.

Watch the news segments from KCTV, KMBC, and FOX 4 below.